Tandem axle vehicle



Dec. 25, 1951 H. w. JAHN ET AL TANDEM AXLE VEHICLE 2 SX-lEETS-SHEET 1Filed Sept. 1. 1949 INVENTORS.

Dec. 25, 1951 w. JAHN ET AL TANDEM AXLE VEHICLE Filed Sept. 1. 1949 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 .flIlll F. y L 5 Arro'zs.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 2,579,582 TANDEM AXLE VEHICLE Herbert W. Jahn andElm by mesne assignments, to Pressed Steel Car Company, Inc.,

111., assignors,

F ration of Pennsylvania Application September 1, 1949, Serial No.113,542

This invention is directed to tandem axle vehicles.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a tandem axlevehicle with three axles wherein each of the axles supports its ownshare of the load regardless of road irregularities.

In this respect, the frame of the vehicle carries two pairs of pivotbrackets between the axles with the distances between the middle axleand the pairs of pivot brackets being substantially twice the distancesbetween the end axles and the pairs of pivot brackets, and pairs ofinterconnected levers are carried by the pairs of pivot brackets andcarry the axles. In this way substantially one-third of the load iscarried by each axle regardless of road irregularities.

Preferably three pairs of levers are utilized,

one pair of levers being connected to each axle,

two pairs of the levers being pivotally connected to the two pairs ofpivot brackets, and the third pair of levers being pivotally connectedto the other two pairs of levers. Guide means are also preferablyprovided for the middle axle. The various connections between the leversand between the levers and axles are such as to permit tilting movementof the axles as well as vertical movement, both of which may be causedby road irregularities.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionof the tandem axle ve- 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-1045) hicle and thecooperative relationship between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled inthe art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims anddrawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a tandem axle vehicle in the formof a trailer;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section of thetandem axle portion of the vehicle;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showinganother form of the tandem axle arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view partly in section of the tandem axlearrangement shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 5, but showing one of the axleslocated in inoperative position and Fig. 7 is a partial end elevationalview looking from the left of Fig. 6.

The tandem axle vehicle of this invention is er H. Blank, Savanna,

Chicago, 111., a corpo-- generally designated at It and it may be of anytype including trucks, trailers, etc. For purposes of illustration inthis application it is disclosed as a trailer. The tandem axle vehicleincludes a frame II which may be of the drop platform type having agoose neck l2 and a suitable coupling I 3.

The vehicle is provided with three tandem axles l4, l5 and 16 forcarrying pairs of Wheels l7, l8 and I9 respectively. Each wheel may beprovided with two tires and thus the arrangement utilizes six wheels or12 tires for supporting the load of the vehicle. The axles I4, l5 and I6 carry stub axles 2H, 2! and 22 for rotatably mounting the wheels.

The axle 14 may take the form of a tube in which the stub axles aresecured as by welding. The tube is provided with a pair of rectangularguides which are vertically guided in slots 25 of a pair of brackets 21suitably secured to the frame II. The rectangular guides 25 may beformed of channels or angles welded together and to the tube l4. Theguides 25 are also provided with flanges 28 to limit longitudinalmovement of the axle [4 with respect to the brackets 21 and hence theframe I l. The guides 25, therefore, operate to permit vertical movementof the axle l4 and to permit tilting movement of the axle 14 in thevertical plane, but yet operate to prevent longitudinal movement of theaxle.

The axle I 4 rotatably carries a pair of levers each of which iscomposed of lever members 30 suitably secured together by a sleeve 3!.In this respect the lever members 30 may be Welded to the sleeve 3i. Thesleeve 31 may contain a bearing bushing so that the lever freely rotateson the axle l4.

One end of each lever pivotally carries a fitting 32 by means of pivotpins 33 and likewise the other end of each lever 39 also carries a pivotfitting 34 by means of pivot pins 35. Each pivot fitting 32 slidably androtatably receives a bolt 38 carried by the end 39 of a second lever 45.In a like manner each pivot fitting 34 slidably and rotatably carries abolt 4| carried by the end 42 of a third lever 43.

The pair of levers are pivoted by pivot pins 45 to a pair of brackets 45suitably secured to the vehicle frame. In a like manner the third pairof levers 43 are pivoted by pivot pins 4'! to a pair of pivot brackets48 also carried by the frame.

The other ends 50 of each pair of levers 40 carry studs 5| whichpivotally carry the axle l5, the axle [5 being held on the studs 5| bynuts 52.

through the pivot brackets pairs of interconnected utilized for likeparts.

- illustrated inFigs. l to curing the axles I and V tilting of the axlesin a substantially The axle I5 is preferably fabricated from structuralsteel elements and has suitable bosses for receiving the stub axles 2|and the studs 51. By reason of the pivotal connection between the axlel5 and the pair of levers 40 tilting of the axle in substantially thevertical plane is permitted and since the pair of levers 4B are pivotedto the frame at 45 the axle I5 is allowed to move substantiallyvertically. In a like manner the other ends 53 of the pair-of levers 43pivotally carry the axle It by means of studs 54, the axle It being heldon the studs 54 by nuts 55. The construction and operation of the axleit is substantially the same as that of the axle 15.

The distances between the axle i4 and the pivot brackets 46 and 48 issubstantially twice the distance between the axles l5 and brackets 4'5and 48. Thus, substantially twothirds of the load of the vehicletransmitted 46 is distributed to the fro'nt'axle'l5 and substantiallyone-third distributed to the center axle I4. Likewise substantiallytwo-thirds of the load of'the'vehicle transmitted through the pivotbrackets 48 is' distributed to the rear axle l6 and one-thirdto the"middle axle [4. Thus, each axle carries its own share of the vehicleload. By reasonof'the three levers, each pair carrying an'axle and twoof the pairs beingpivoted to'the pivot brackets 46 and 48, the axles arepermitted to move substantially vertically in the'event'of roadirregularities. However, eachaxle at all "times supports one-thirdof'the load regardless of road irregularities. Byreason' of the pivotalconnections between thepairs of levers and'between the pairs of leversand the axles and by reason of a limited amount of loos'ene'ss in thesepivotal connections each axle is permitted to tilt in substantially avertical plane further to compensate for road irregularities.

The form of the invention illustrated inFigs 4 to '7 is substantiallythe samees that illustrated in Figs. l to 3 and like referencecharacters are V a I Thefo'rm of the invention illustrated in FigsQl to'7 differs from that 3 in'themanner of sea V I6 to the pairs of pivotedlevers 40 and respectively. The form of the invention illustrated inFigs etc 7 permits freer plane but prevent longitudinal movement of theaxles.

Means are provided for rendering inoperative either or both of the axlesl5 and It. In this connection these axles carry a pair of brackets 85provided with holes 86 which are adapted to be receivedbetween the twopairs of brackets 81 carried by the frame (the brackets 81 beingprovided with holes 88. In order to render the axle l5 inoperative it iselevated by a suitable "jack until the holes 86 and 8B are aligned andthen pins 89 are inserted in the holes. In this Iway the axle l5'may beraised off the road and of this invention have been disclosed, otherforms thereof may become apparent to those skilledin riedjby 'the axlesthe axle it maybe held raised so-that the load of the vehicle is carand5. In a like manner elevated and maintained in an inoperative: position.If bothaxles i5 and I8 are-so-rendered inoperative the load of thevehicle is carried solely'by the axle l4.

While for purposes-of illustration two forms the art upon reference tothis disclosure, and therefore this invention is" to be'limited only'bythe scope of the appended 'claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A mounting for the axles'of a tandem axle vehicle having a main frameand three axles supporting the frame, said mounting comprising incombination, a pair of forward supporting members attached to saidframe, a pair of rearward supporting members attached to said frame, avertical guideway attached to said frame intermediate said pairs ofsupporting members, an intermediate axle mounted for guided tiltingvertical movement in said guide'wayJa pair of first levers eachjournalled on one end of said'intermediate axle and extending forwardlyand'rear wardly therefrom, a pair of forward levers pivotally mounted onsaid pair of forward supporting members, a front axle mounted 'on theforward 7 ends of 'saidpair of forward levers, a pair of rearward'leverspivotally mounted on said pair of "rearward supporting members, "a rear'axle mounted on the rearward ends of said rearward'levers, ac'onnectorpivotally mounted pair of on each end of each ofsaid pair offirst levers, and a pin mounted on the rear end of each of said pair offorward levers and on the front end of tilting of the axles l5 and I6with less looseness each of said pair of rearward levers, said pins inthe various pivotal connections. spect the forward ends of the pair oflevers 4e are offset at and each carries a stud Sl Each stud Bl-carriesa pair of straps 62 which are held a'double pivotal connection betweenthe pair of levers 40 and the axle l5. V H

In a like manner the rear axle it is carried by the pair of levers 43through a double pivotal connection. In this respect the rear ends ofthe pair of levers 43 are offset at 10 and each end carries a stud IIwhich in turn carries straps 32 held spaced apart by a spacer l3. Nuts14 secure the straps 12 on the studs H. The upper ends of the straps 12are pivotally connected to the axle l6 by bolts 15 and nuts 16.

In order to prevent longitudinal the axles l5 and I6 each axle isprovided with a pair of guides BQ'abuttingagainst the inner portions ofthe frame ll. These guides permit vertical movement of the axles l5 andlli ar'id-alsov vertical Inthisremovement of 0 brackets depending 7 an"equal distance from vided between said first levers and said forward andrearward levers.

2. A mounting for the axles of a tandem axle vehicle having a main frameand three axles supporting the frame,'said mounting comprising incombination, a pair of forward brackets depending from said frame, apair of rearward from said frame, a vertical guideway attached to saidframe intermediate said pairs of-brac'kets an intermediate axle(positioned for guided tilting vertical movement in I said guideway, apair of'first levers each journalled on oneend ofsaid intermediate axleand extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom the axial centerthereof, a pair of forward supporting levers pivotally mounted on saidpair of forward brackets, afront axle mounted on the forward ends ofsaid pair of forward levers, a pair of rearward supporting leverspivotally mounted on said pair of rearward brackets/a rear axle mountedon the rearward ends of said; pair of rearward levers/connector meanspivotally mounted on each end of each of said pair of first levers, anda pin mounted on the rear end of each of said pair of forward levers andon the front end of each of said pair of rearward levers, said pinsbeing mounted for sliding movement in the respective connector meanswhereby a sliding pivotal joint is provided between said first leversand said forward and rearward levers.

3. An axle mounting for tandem axle vehicles having a frame, said axlemounting comprising in combination, a pair of front brackets mounted onsaid frame, a pair of rear brackets mounted on said frame, a guidewaymounted on said frame intermediate said brackets, a pair of guidemembers mounted in said guideway, a flange on each of said guide membersadapted to abut said guideway, an intermediate axle mounted in saidguide members for guided vertical movement with respect to saidguideway, a pair of first levers each journalled on one end of saidintermediate axle and extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom anequal distance from the axial center thereof, a pair of forwardsupporting levers pivotally mounted on said pair of forward brackets, afront axle mounted on the forward ends of said pair of forward levers, apair of rearward supporting levers pivotally mounted on said pair ofrearward brackets, a rear axle mounted on the HERBERT W. JAHN. ELMER H.BLANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,205,858 Corcoran Nov. 21, 19162,017,001 Hocking L Oct. 8, 1935 2,188,654 Favary Jan. 30, 19402,391,948 Couse Jan. 1, 1946 2,491,994 McFarlane Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 49,972 Denmark Mar. 4, 1935

